Love of Wisdom

These volumes contain the first English translation of the letters of the philosopher priest, Marsilio Ficino, who helped to shape the Renaissance worldview. This volume contains letters written in 1488 and 1489, with a preface added in the summer of 1490.

"All that we regard as the norm of Western European art - Botticelli's paintings, Monteverdi's music, Shakespeare's philosophical lovers - has flowed from Ficino's Florence." Kathleen Raine, The Times

"Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) was at the very fountainhead of some of the most characteristic and influential aspects of the Italian Renaissance."
C.B. Schmitt, The Times Literary Supplement

"The subjects which occupy Ficino and his friends, are of perennial and indeed painfully topical interest."   Church Times

"Since therefore we all wish to be happy, and happiness cannot be obtained without the right use of our gifts, and since knowledge reveals their proper use, we should leave all else aside and strive with the full support of philosophy and religion to become as wise as possible."  Ficino

"Marsilio Ficino was at the very fountainhead of some of the most characteristic and influential aspects of the Italian Renaissance."
C.B. Schmitt, The Times Literary Supplement

"Happy is the man for whom all things end well: but they do so only for him who uses them well."   Ficino